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Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 08 January 2026
An occupational therapy rotational post providing the post holder with the opportunity to build on their knowledge and experience across a variety of specialisms within the acute hospital and the community. This rotational element will enable the senior occupational therapist to experience more areas of occupational therapy and develop specialist skills with the potential to find an area to specialise in. There are also opportunities for learning non-clinical, managerial and leadership skills by experiencing working in different teams.
The post holder will ensure that within each rotation they are proactive in their learning and desire to provide high quality services for all patients that require occupational therapy intervention. They will know when to seek support and learning from the specialist occupational therapists. They will be expected to carry a caseload of patients with complex health and social care needs using evidence based practise and client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. To communicate in a clear and accessible way with patients and their carers/ families and ensure communication is adapted to support them in their decision making. To develop links with other departments and to facilitate a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach including advocating for patients during decision making in team meetings.
Main duties of the job
Acute Medicine (ED, Frailty and Acute Medical Unit)
King’s Outreach Therapy Service (KOTS) (a community rotation, based out of Denmark Hill)
Amputees & Surgery (a split post working between Denmark Hill site and Bowley Close)
Health and Aging Units
The post requires a flexible approach to working and requires the post holder to work across various services, in different locations and undertake weekend commitments as required.
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
CLINICAL
1. To identify, prioritise and manage patients who require occupational therapy input, including education of the MDT to promote appropriate referrals for discharge planning and rehabilitation.
2. To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge services.
3. To be competent in the administration of specific occupational therapy assessments of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and occupational areas.
4. To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychological and occupational areas.
5. To identify risks, complete risk assessments and implement risk management strategies including the use of therapeutic manual handling techniques and the lone working policy and document this accurately.
6. To recognise any change in the condition of the patient and alter treatment accordingly or escalates to medical teams as required.
7. To work within local policies and procedures, national standards and guidelines and adhere to the Royal College of Occupational Therapy professional standards and ethics.
8. To support patients in setting their own goals, then implementing this and evaluating appropriately.
9. To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions, in collaboration with clients and carers, to achieve therapeutic goals.
10. To select evidence based techniques as part of a coordinated treatment program.
11. To assess and demonstrate to patients and carers the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision of equipment to support discharge.
12. To liaise with professionals in onward services to ensure continuity of care.
13. To respect the individuality, values, culture and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs, ensuring equity of service provision.
14. To make appropriate clinical observations and keep accurate electronic records and activity data in accordance with professional and trust standards.
15. To write occupational therapy functional and discharge reports for social services, onward inpatient services and community services.
16. To work as an autonomous practitioner and display appropriate problem solving, analytical and judgement skills.
17. To assist with planning and prioritisation of the team and departments workload in the event of staff absence to ensure the occupational therapy priority services are maintained.
18. To comply with all relevant trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to equal opportunities, health and safety and confidentiality of information.
COMMUNICATION
1. To communicate complex information to patients and family/ carers who may have barriers to understanding.
2. To actively participate in team meetings within the occupational therapy department and with the MDT, including weekly MDT meetings, case conferences and best interest meetings and to delegate for specialist or team lead occupational therapist as required.
3. To be skilled in communicating reasoning and motivating patients to participate in sessions.
4. To communicate professionally in person and by telephone with families/ carers and other professionals.
5. To manage differences of opinions and difficult conversations within the team, MDT and with patients, families/ carers.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
1. To supervise, provide support and complete appraisals with occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and technicians and students.
2. To be aware of the importance of staff wellbeing, accessing trust support as required and raising any concerns with supervisors or senior staff.
3. To contribute to the hospitals clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.
4. To assist in developing services and standards according to the occupational therapy objectives.
5. To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the occupational therapy services with a view to measuring efficiency and ensuring high quality standards.
6. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of equipment, raising any concerns and reporting when further resources are needed.
7. To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assisting in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.
8. To have good IT skills and use a variety of IT systems to input patient and staff data as required.
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
1. To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
2. To promote development of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, technicians and students according to their training and development needs as identified through supervision and appraisal.
3. To regularly supervise occupational therapy students on practice placement.
4. To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
5. To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
6. To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording outcomes in a portfolio.
7. To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in occupational therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an occupational therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
8. To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
9. To participate in and present on the in-service training programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
10. To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.
General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
To live and role model the Kings Trust Values and Vision.
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. An individual performance review and the setting of objectives will occur within each rotation.
All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
Safe Guarding
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;
* attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
* familiarising themselves with the trust's processes for reporting concerns
* reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Occupational Therapy Qualification (Dip RCOT or BSc OT)
* HCPC Registration
* Portfolio and evidence of continuing professional development
* Member of Professional Body (RCOT)
* Member of Specialist Section or special interest group
Knowledge and Experience
* Experience of working as a Band 5 OT in a physical setting
* Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
* Experience working with patients, families and carers
* Awareness of Confidentiality
* Awareness of the Importance of Equality and Inclusion
* Demonstrate an understanding of hospital systems for the management of patient assessment and treatment
* Concise and accurate report writing skills
* Experience supervising qualified staff or students
* Experience of presenting to small and large audiences
Skills and Competencies
* Able to prioritise and manage stress
* Ability to work collaboratively
* Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
* Able to undertake manual handling tasks
* Good communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
* Knowledge of relevant current policies and guidelines
* Excellent IT and record keeping skills
* Ability to work flexibly across sites and with weekend working
* Ability to develop staff
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£46,419 to £55,046 a year per annum, including high cost allowance
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
213-Division-A-7689145
Job locations
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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